Book opinions

i have read just about all of tom brown's books, with the exception of his case files book.....

i found his field guide books to be pretty informative... other than the ego factor, the guy definatetly knows what he's talking about... he tends to stick to more native american/ancestral knowledge in his non-field guide books.. they're still a great read...

i have a ton of friends that have taken his classes.... they all love them, even though they're crazy expensive...
 
dougo83 said:
I don't know about his books, but when I read this, my BS alarm was going off non-stop. Guy makes himself sound like a cross between Rambo, L.T.
Bonham, and Sacajawea...:rolleyes:

http://trackertrail.com/tombrown/bio.html
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From the web site: "These classes gradually take the student to the point where he or she can enter the woods and live comfortably with no man-made supplies. "

Wow, that's a pretty bold statement. Enter the woods with no man-made supplies (i.e. butt naked?) and live comfortably?

I recently ordered a few of Browns books; "The Tracker" and "The Way of the Scout". I haven't yet received them, but I intend to read them as tales and opinions, not as factual stories. The guy has merits, and he is a skillfull outdoorsman no doubt, so I bet he has written plenty of stuff that I can use one way or another.

That said, I think over-mystifying the outdoors can be a dangerous thing also. No matter how skillfull you are, primitive skills are (IMHO) only a part of outdoors survival. Sure, these skills can be usefull, but to discard the benefits of modern equipment is not smart. For example no matter how handy I would become with a fire drill, there's no way I would hike in Finland in winter time without modern fire making tools and proper clothing. I'm not saying mr. Brown says I should, but he does emphasize primitive skills in the interviews I've seen.

About survival books in general, I've read a few, and I also like Cody Lundins 98.6°. It's well written, easy to read (it's actually fun to read), and in my opinion emphasizes the right issues. I especially like the fact that the survival kit section is original, not a re-written list from the SAS survival book like in so many other books. Nothing wrong with the SAS book, but I just don't want to pay to read the same stuff in different kind of covers.
 
I read few of his books about a decade ago. I've been "digesting" his ideas ever since. If I have time, I think I'll dig them up and give them another read. I think there is a lot of material that is valuable to me, but his stuff definitely not for everyone. Same-same with "The Complete Walker" or Cody Lundin's "98.6". That is how it always is with people who have strong opinions that are strongly stated, IMHO.
 
I read both. The survival book is well written - but lacks in good clear illustration. The case files I could not finish. He is not a riter and the tales smacked of a person who clearly loves himself.

However, I own a LOT of Tom Brown's books and the Case Files was the only book I did not like nor could finish. Check out the rest of the Survival series, Urban Survival, Edible Plants, and the like - they are all good.

I have also read both of Cody Lundin's books. The first one is better (98.6 degrees) but both are good. I think Tom Brown's focus is much different than Cody's and they are both clear on that - but both are top notch.

If you had these two and the SAS handbook - you basically have it covered.

TF
 
I've not read those books of his, but I did read--about 20 years ago--his memoir-ish The Tracker. It was good but it was very long on his thoughts and views and beliefs, short on nuts-and-bolts techniques. I'd say you've got the better books of his.
 
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If you can get past the corniness of his prose, he actually has some very good tips and instructions. Except for jumping out of a tree with a spear to get a deer, ala First Blood. I have read Wilderness Survival and Urban Survival. Urban Survival is moreso a Living Well on Practically Nothing type book, but still survival based.
 
IMO Tom Brown Jr books are good for making you want to GET OUT THERE, in much as the same way as you want to hit the gym after watching a Rocky movie.
I learnt far more from reading Cody Lundins and Ray Mears books but they didn't inspire me to get out there as much as the TOM Brown books, so they all have their merits !
 
I am with pitdog.
While they may not be the most informative books out there, they are informative and they do inspire one to get out and participate.

Also, while some of his books may come across as ego oriented or hippie/native oriented, the guy is writing about himself and his experiences so that is to be expected. The books do not pretend to be anything other than a man sharing his life, experiences, and knowledge, and should be approached with that in mind so that one can see the entertainment in it.
 
He may be viewed poorly with some folk having a strong dislike for his personal character, but the knowledge is there. I agree with Pit & Doc, about motivation & enjoyment of the outdoors. and have also learned some techniques I may not have otherwise learned, or learned as thoroughly. Read most of his books, a few years back, but never the case files. The classes, while more expensive than showing up to 'gatherings' or 'meets', is highly organized and covers a lot of useful material. He doesn't even do the instruction, most of the time. I also love informal gatherings around a fire and the casual sharing & good times that go on! One of my fav things, so don't get me wrong here!
Not trying to take sides, but if I could only *learn* wilderness survival based upon having a life-line (pack fully stocked strapped to my back), or independence (via primitive methods), I would choose proficiency in the primitive skills (forgive me for polarizing. not trying to alienate anyone, just examine). However, I'd prefer to be fully equipped in an actual survival situation(I assume), say with a PLB. Gear is great, but I still side with Knowledge as better (Ooh, another better than less than), in terms of, 'what shall I acquire next??' (daydreaming of Busse's & Bark River's here.. oops, did I say that!?)
Thankfully, we don't live in a mutually exclusive reality, and the world is our oyster! I choose chocolate AND vanilla, based on availability of choice alone!
That being said, he smokes Marlboro Reds and has no qualms with coming off as, 'the a-hole in charge', to my limited scope of ass-umption. Never irked me much, since he's usually not there, or I was in the midst of a captivating story or technique, except one time when he chewed out Kevin (instructor there, who has since started his own wilderness school, I believe) for holding up the class. To some extent, I understood where he was coming from, but that time it felt like a show for the class, at Kev's expense. That's not cool with me, but it's not what I get out of it, and I still show up to the volunteer clean-up crews, just to get together with folk of similar mind & support the greater intention.
I love to hear stories from the Scout class participants! I wouldn't be surprised if many here would enjoy the same.

Not trying to tell anyone what to think or anything, but suggesting we remain open to whatever experience/knowledge of others have to offer, without becoming enmeshed with the messenger. The aspiration of the message, I don't find so dissimilar: enjoy & cultivate your independence
 
Whine-warning, if you like Brown Jr. books, dont read this.

attej said:
I recently ordered a few of Browns books; "The Tracker" and "The Way of the Scout". I haven't yet received them, but I intend to read them as tales and opinions, not as factual stories. The guy has merits, and he is a skillfull outdoorsman no doubt, so I bet he has written plenty of stuff that I can use one way or another.
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... quoting myself here...

I received the two books mentiond above (way of the scout & the tracker). I've read a good part of the first one, and I'm extremely dissapointed.

There isn't a single story there that I can relate to in any way, and not one shred of usefull information. Just ridicilous stories of a mystical appache, and magical ninja-tracking skills that allow you to break the laws of physic. Now I can appreciate a good fantasy book, but this guy has more skills than Aragorn the Strider, and definately not the writing skills of JRR Tolkien. Makes me wonder why he hasn't cashed in the James Randi challenge. Could have donated the million $ to WWF or something.

Dunno if the field quides are any better than these, and honestly, don't even care after wasting 20 eurs to these two.
 
The field guide was great, lots of cool info, but nothing that isnt in all other survival manuals......

The case files was ok. I liked one of the files in it. It was an ok read, just alot of mysticalisms.............
 
j williams said:
The field guide was great, lots of cool info, but nothing that isnt in all other survival manuals......
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Darn... I wonder why he doesn't describe the advanced scouting skills in the field guides? I would love to be able to "become one with the water" to avoid hypothermia if I e.g. fall through the ice when ice-fishing at winter :D
 
I picked up the Tom brown but put it back due to I spent enough at B& N on the other books I posted....
 
I wish my barnes and noble had the other books you got TTD. What section did you find those in?
 
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